Liam Payne, the British artist and former member of One Direction, tragically passed away on Wednesday, October 17, in Buenos Aires.
The artist fell from the third floor of the hotel he was staying in since the beginning of the month. However, the reason behind his extended stay in the Argentine capital remained unclear until now. His girlfriend of over two years, Kate Cassidy, had returned to their home in Florida just two days before the tragedy.
The Reason Behind His Extended Stay
According to a friend of Payne's who spoke with the British newspaper Daily Mail, he was in Argentina waiting for an appointment at the U.S. Embassy to renew his visa. Like many others dealing with the U.S. Immigration Service, he had to travel and wait for confirmation of the time and of his appointment.
In cases like this, the visa applicant must leave the U.S. to obtain the visa from a consulate abroad. Liam chose Buenos Aires because it coincided with both a wedding he and his girlfriend were invited to and a concert by his One Direction bandmate, Niall Horan.
Liam Payne's Struggles with Immigration
The source revealed that Liam's plans were simple: secure the visa and return home. However, complications arose with his "O" visa application (a visa granted to individuals with extraordinary abilities). U.S. consular officials in Buenos Aires required Liam to provide evidence of his sobriety after he publicly acknowledged his struggles with addiction.
He complied with the necessary medical examinations and had another appointment scheduled for Friday, October 19—just two days after his death.
"It was widely known that he had been in rehab in the U.S., so he had to check the box [about past drug use], and that meant undergoing medical tests. He had to be examined by a doctor and a psychiatrist. All of this took time. That's why Liam was forced to stay in Buenos Aires longer than he had originally planned," the anonymous source explained.
A Sober Liam Payne
The interviewee also shared details regarding the medical and psychiatric tests Liam underwent to obtain his U.S. visa. According to his friend, Liam was completely sober at the time of the examinations.
"The test results were good. Liam was 100 percent sober," the source added. Throughout his stay in Buenos Aires, Liam was active on social media, keeping fans updated.
However, this information contrasts with reports from Buenos Aires police and hotel staff, who claimed that drugs were found scattered around his room, allegedly provided by an employee and that various pieces of furniture had been damaged.
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